{"id":768137,"date":"2026-06-29T16:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/768137\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T16:47:18","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T16:47:18","slug":"ufc-329-fight-card-lineup-takes-shape-ahead-of-conor-mcgregors-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/768137\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC 329 Fight Card Lineup Takes Shape Ahead of Conor McGregor’s Return"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barring any unforeseen issues, less than two weeks remain until Conor McGregor makes his return to the cage to headline UFC 329. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s been five year since McGregor last stepped into the Octagon for his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, which ended after the first round when \u201cThe Notorious\u201d suffered a broken ankle that left him on the first two-fight skid of his MMA career. <\/p>\n

The 37-year-old was originally scheduled to return in the summer of 2024 to meet his opposing The Ultimate Fighter coach Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but a broken two derailed McGregor\u2019s comeback plans until he was finally booked to rematch Max Holloway<\/a> more than two years after the planned Chandler matchup.<\/p>\n

Can Conor McGregor Improve to 2-0 Over Max Holloway in UFC Return?<\/p>\n

McGregor and Holloway famously first met back in 2013 in Boston, where \u201cThe Notorious\u201d secured his second UFC victory over a 21-year-old version<\/a> of the future UFC featherweight and \u201cBMF\u201d champion. <\/p>\n

\"Conor<\/p>\n

Conor McGregor (left) celebrates his win over Max Holloway (right) after a UFC featherweight match at the TD Garden. | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The return of the biggest star in UFC history for the night\u2019s headlining bout<\/a> is obviously the primary focus for many fans heading into UFC 329, but the promotion has also made sure to stack the event with plenty of other high-profile fights as well.<\/p>\n

UFC 329 Main Card Loaded With Big Fights<\/p>\n

In the night\u2019s co-main event, fan favorite Paddy Pimblett returns for the first time since his failed interim lightweight title bid against Justin Gaethje<\/a> to take on France\u2019s Benoit Saint-Denis. <\/p>\n

\"Paddy<\/p>\n

Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Justin Gaethje (red gloves) during UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The loss to Gaethje marked the first setback of Pimblett\u2019s UFC run, while Saint-Denis is currently riding the momentum of four-straight finishes.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Benoit<\/p>\n

Benoit Saint Denis (blue gloves) fights Beneil Dariush (red gloves) in the lightweight bout during UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Top-ranked bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista are also set to rematch as part of the night\u2019s main card, which also features a pivotal flyweight matchup between Brandon Royval and Lone\u2019er Kavanagh. <\/p>\n

\"Brandon<\/p>\n

Brandon Royval (red gloves) fights Joshua Van (blue gloves) during UFC 317 at T-Mobile Arena. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The main card opener for UFC 329 is also a must-watch fight, as longtime UFC veteran King Green will look to extended his winning run to four fights when he takes on Terrance McKinney in a bout that looks almost certain to end in a finish. <\/p>\n

Former Champions & Gable Steveson’s Debut Highlight UFC 329 Prelims<\/p>\n

The prelims for UFC 303 also feature plenty of major names, and the final bout before the main card action will see former UFC middleweight titleholder Robert Whittaker make his light heavyweight debut against Nikita Krylov. <\/p>\n

\"Paulo<\/p>\n

Paulo Costa defends against Robert Whittaker during UFC 298 at Honda Center. | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Another former UFC champion will also be in action when Cody Garbrandt takes on Adrian Yanez in a bantamweight clash. Luke Riley and Farid Basharat will also look to add to their respective undefeated records in their matchups with Kai Kamaka III and Ethyn Ewing. <\/p>\n

\"Luke<\/p>\n

Luke Riley (red gloves) fights Michael Aswell Jr. (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. | Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The highly-anticipated card also features one fighter that will be stepping into the Octagon for the very first time, as Gable Steveson makes his UFC debut against Elisha Ellison after going 3-0 in professional MMA<\/a> with one additional victory in Mike Perry\u2019s Dirty Boxing last October.<\/p>\n

\"Gable<\/p>\n

Gable Steveson has won all three of his MMA fights via first-round finish. | (MFL)<\/p>\n

UFC 329 takes place on Saturday, July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, and you can check out the full lineup and bout order below.<\/p>\n

UFC 329 Main Card Card<\/p>\n

Main Event: Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2<\/p>\n

Co-Main Event: Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett<\/p>\n

Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista<\/p>\n

Brandon Royval vs. Lone\u2019er Kavanagh<\/p>\n

King Green vs. Terrance McKinney<\/p>\n

UFC 329 Preliminary Card <\/p>\n

Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov<\/p>\n

Gable Steveson vs. Elisha Ellison<\/p>\n

Cody Garbrandt vs. Adrian Yanez<\/p>\n

Luke Riley vs. Kai Kamaka III<\/p>\n

UFC 329 Early Preliminary Card<\/p>\n

Tracy Cortez vs. Cong Wang<\/p>\n

Damian Pinas vs. Cesar Almeida<\/p>\n

Farid Basharat vs. Ethyn Ewing<\/p>\n

Ryan Gandra vs. Zach Reese<\/p>\n

Ode Osbourne vs. Cody Durden<\/p>\n

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